'Workplace dispute' led to fatal French Quarter shooting, NOPD says

Updated August 2, 2018 at 12:48 PM;Posted August 2, 2018 at 10:41 AM

New Orleans police said a man was shot dead near the intersection of Bienville and Decatur streets in the French Quarter early Thursday Aug. 2, 2018 following what appeared to be a "workplace dispute." (Photo by Hanna Krueger, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

A French Quarter shooting that left a 30-year-old man dead early Thursday morning (Aug. 2) appeared to be sparked by a dispute between former co-workers, New Orleans police said. Police were able to quickly apprehend the shooter, who remained on scene holding his weapon.

Police were called to the shooting at 3:10 a.m. outside Attiki Bar & Grill near the intersection of Bienville and Decatur streets and officers were on scene by 3:11 a.m., 8th District Commander Nicholas Gernon said during a press conference. Officers arrived to find the man suffering from a gunshot wound. The man later died at the hospital.

Gernon called the shooting "really unfortunate," but emphasized "by all accounts it appears to be some sort of workplace dispute."

An initial investigation indicated the shooting happened after the two men -- one an employee at a nearby bar and the other a former employee -- got into an argument on the street outside the establishment, Gernon said. He said the shooter went to a nearby vehicle, grabbed a gun and shot the victim.

Police did not name the bar where the two men worked.

NOPD apprehended the suspected shooter, James Nero, 21, at the scene. He will be charged with second-degree murder. Detectives are also investigating a possible accomplice who arrived at the scene in a SUV.

Gernon said the entire incident was captured by NOPD's real-time crime cameras, which investigators are reviewing. He added detectives are also seeking any witnesses and additional surveillance video that can give a clearer picture of what happened.

Homicide Detective Sarah Cherny is in charge of the investigation into the murder, which is the first homicide of 2018 in NOPD's 8th District, which polices the French Quarter, Central Business District and Faubourg Marigny.

It is the seventh fatal shooting in New Orleans in the past two weeks.

The press conference occurred at the 8th District Police Station at 334 Royal Street in the middle of the French Quarter. Before Gernon began speaking, a street performer crooned Louis Armstrong melodies and the hymn "Amazing Grace" on the sidewalk outside the station as clouds threatened to downpour.